The large-scale NATO exercise Defender Europe 2021, launched in Europe, is provocative and certainly not defensive in nature.

This opinion was expressed by experts interviewed by RT.

Experts state that as part of these maneuvers, a significant transfer of troops and equipment from the United States to Europe has been underway since March.

Thus, the alliance is trying to test its military infrastructure near the Russian borders in order to “convey artillery greetings to Russia,” believes Andrei Koshkin, head of the Department of Political Science and Sociology at the Plekhanov Russian University of Economics.

"We are faced with large-scale exercises, the task of which is to bring the military structure closer to the Russian borders," said the interlocutor of RT.

This point of view is also shared in the Russian parliament.

According to Sergei Tsekov, a member of the Federation Council Committee on International Affairs, the leadership of the North Atlantic Alliance is trying to intimidate the citizens of Europe and the United States with an imaginary threat from Russia.

“They say that the exercises are aimed at defense, but the EU has never frankly defended itself,” he explained, adding that the maneuvers are aggressive and offensive, and partly due to the financial factor.

"The exercises are being held to" pump up "NATO's military budget, to buy new weapons," the senator said.

In turn, Dmitry Novikov, First Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee on International Affairs, drew attention to the fact that, against the background of geopolitical difficulties, such exercises may have "their own implications."

"Despite the relatively systemic nature of this kind of exercise, against the background of today's anti-Russian statements, difficult relations between Russia and Ukraine and the possible aggravation of the situation in Donbass, this kind of exercise has its own implications," Novikov said in an interview with RT.

  • US transport ship USNS Bob Hope arriving in Albania

  • © Staff Sgt.

    Elizabeth O. Bryson / Army

Earlier it was reported that US transport ships with military equipment, which are taking part in Defender Europe 2021, arrived at the Albanian port of Durres. The exercises will continue throughout May and will end in June.

As part of these trainings, it is planned to conduct operations in more than 30 training zones located in 12 countries - mainly in the states of southeastern Europe, the Balkans and the Baltic states.

More than 28 thousand servicemen from 26 states are taking part in the exercises.

According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, these NATO exercises are the largest in the past 30 years.

The other day, Pentagon spokesman John Kirby, during a press briefing, called these maneuvers "defensive": "This is an annual exercise.

We have been organizing them for a very long time.

And, as I said in the introduction, these are defensive exercises.

They help us improve interoperability. "

At the same time, at a briefing, Kirby was asked how the Defender Europe 2021 exercises differ from the April Russian maneuvers, because of which the West had previously accused Moscow of increasing tensions in the region.

In response, a Pentagon spokesman said that NATO exercises differ from those of the Russian Federation in their "transparency."

“Moscow does not have such a thing and has never had it.

This is the big difference.

This is a defensive exercise and you will hear us talk about it and tell you and the world what we are doing and why, ”Kirby said.

Also on russian.rt.com "An external threat is needed": why did the US talk about Russian troops on the border with Ukraine again?

At the same time, he actually questioned the goals of the maneuvers officially declared by Moscow.

“I'm not going to talk about what Russia calls exercises.

I have repeatedly stated that they must answer questions about what they are doing, ”said a Pentagon spokesman.

"Surprise Verification Objectives Achieved"

We will remind, as reported in the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, in April, it was planned to conduct a total of 4048 exercises at 520 facilities of the training and material base and 101 training grounds.

According to the ministry, training took place in all military districts, in the Northern Fleet and in the Kuril Islands, the Far North and Kamchatka.

At the same time, the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation emphasized that the exercises are planned.

On April 22, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu announced the completion of maneuvers in the Southern and Western military districts and gave the order to return the personnel to their locations.

At the same time, he noted that "the objectives of the surprise check have been fully achieved," and Russian troops "have demonstrated the ability to ensure reliable defense of the country."

Despite the fact that the Russian Federation timely announced the conduct of the exercises on its territory, in the West a lot of speculations arose around the Russian maneuvers.

Thus, many American and European publications published materials in which it was argued that the military activity of the Russian Federation could be associated with "plans to invade Ukraine."

Western politicians also expressed their concern.

For example, German Chancellor Angela Merkel called on Russian President Vladimir Putin to abandon the build-up of troops near the borders with Ukraine, and State Department spokesman Ned Price said that the United States regards the actions of the Russian Federation as an escalation.

Ukraine did not stand aside either.

Defense Minister Andrei Taran said that by its actions Russia is allegedly trying to demonstrate its readiness to use armed force against Kiev.

At the same time, in March and April, in violation of the Minsk agreements, Ukraine pulled troops to the contact line in Donbass, which led to a serious aggravation of the situation in the region.

However, the West preferred to close their eyes to Kiev's actions.

In response to criticism from the EU and the United States, Moscow noted that the relocation of Russian military units on its own territory is an internal affair of the Russian Federation.

At the same time, it was emphasized that Russia is not trying to threaten anyone.

  • Maria Zakharova

  • RIA News

Thus, the official representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Maria Zakharova said that Russia, like any other state in the world, has the right to conduct exercises on its territory.

“Why is there such an increased focus on our military exercises?

It seems to me that the answer is obvious: because for many years the West, primarily Washington, and the Brussels structures have been accelerating the wave, thinking that Russia is an aggressor state, ”she said.

Sergey Shoigu also commented on the criticism of the West.

At a meeting of the Council of Defense Ministers of the CSTO member states in Dushanbe on April 27, he also said that Russia is moving troops within its territory according to its own plans.

“Recently, only the lazy has not joined the chorus of accusations against Russia for any reason.

Either I do not like the conduct of exercises on our territory, or the return of troops to the points of permanent deployment is annoying.

And someone decided to warn us about the consequences of our activity on our own territory, ”said the Minister of Defense.

"I want to emphasize: we do not accept such warnings and intend to continue to do everything necessary to ensure the security of our borders," added Shoigu

At the same time, he noted the increased activity of NATO near the Russian borders.

“The growth of the military threat is facilitated by the actions of the United States and NATO in the European region to increase the combat readiness of troops and strengthen the forward presence.

The military infrastructure is being modernized, the intensity of operational and combat training is growing, and the American "four to thirty" concept is being implemented.

Nationalist sentiments are heating up in Ukraine, which provokes an armed conflict in the Donbass, including in the regions bordering on Russia, ”the head of the Ministry of Defense said.

  • Sergei Shoigu

  • © RIA Novosti / Ilya Pitalev

The "four to thirty" program, which Shoigu mentioned, envisages the creation in NATO of 30 motorized infantry battalions, 30 air squadrons and the presence of 30 warships, ready for use within 30 days.

Earlier, he also pointed to the strengthening of the intelligence activities of the alliance, as well as the increase in the intensity and scope of its activities for operational training.

In this regard, Shoigu noted that the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation "adequately respond to all changes in the situation near the Russian borders."

"Manifestation of hegemonism"

According to analysts, the West's criticism of the Russian exercises is a vivid example of the use of double standards, since at the same time, NATO's military activity near the Russian borders only grows from year to year.

“This is a manifestation of hegemonism.

In the West, they believe that they can do whatever they want, and Russia should ask their permission.

If they really want to improve relations with the Russian Federation, then they must talk with it on an equal footing, respectfully and rely not only on their own interests, but also pay attention to the national interests of the Russian Federation, "a military expert, retired colonel Viktor Litovkin, said in a commentary on RT.

  • Russian military exercises

  • globallookpress.com

  • © MOD Russia

In turn, Alexey Podberezkin, director of the MGIMO Center for Military-Political Studies, also stressed that the Defender Europe 2021 exercises are not defensive in nature.

“Talking about defense is all empty words.

The Defender Europe 2021 exercise is not defensive in nature.

The meaning of these maneuvers is that at various levels, from outer space to land and sea operations, there is a concerted action of naval, air, ground forces and cyber units, ”he said.

Viktor Litovkin adheres to a similar point of view.

“These exercises are undoubtedly offensive in nature, as NATO has brought together military from 26 countries near the Russian border.

They perform combat missions, offensive marches, maneuvers, and train transfers.

Now the North Atlantic Alliance is trying to impose a power system on Russia, announcing that it is ready to talk to it from a position of strength, ”the analyst said.

At the same time, Podberezkin drew particular attention to the fact that, unlike Western exercises, which take place on the territory of more than ten countries and in which the American military who have arrived in Europe participate, Russia is conducting maneuvers on its own territory.

“The Russian armed forces showed their abilities, power and training, but this took place on the territory of Russia.

The Russian Federation did not deliberately approach the largest European states, did not threaten anyone.

And, on the contrary, unlike the Russian maneuvers, the Defender Europe 2021 exercises are frankly provocative, "the analyst concluded.